Built for Breakthrough: Why Innovation Fails and How Smart Leaders Get It Right - Softcover

Baltman, Shelli; Stevenson, Fiona

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1774586487 ISBN 13: 9781774586488

Publisher: Page Two Press, 2026

Synopsis

Innovation isn't optional—it's your only lifeline in a rapidly changing world.

So many innovation projects fail, leaving behind wasted resources and crushed dreams. In Built for Breakthrough, seasoned innovation strategists Shelli Baltman and Fiona Stevenson reveal why great teams can fall victim to this innovation “curse” and how to beat the odds and succeed. This essential guide is for leaders, innovation teams, and anyone who wants to ensure their next big idea not only launches but thrives.

Innovation doesn't have to be a mysterious gamble. Baltman and Stevenson—co-founders of the award-winning, globally recognized innovation agency The Idea Suite—demystify the pitfalls of innovation by focusing on the crucial human factors that determine success or failure. Drawing from their experience leading hundreds of projects for a global client base, the authors expose the hidden traps and recurring mistakes companies make, providing clear, actionable strategies to navigate around them. They detail their proven, proprietary "Six I’s" innovation process: Identify, Insights, Inspiration, Ideation, Iteration, and Implementation, emphasizing the need for a balance between structured methods and creative flexibility.

Filled with real-world stories, practical insights and helpful tools, Built for Breakthrough offers readers tangible returns on investment by dramatically increasing the odds of innovation success. Learn how to cultivate a resilient innovation mindset, secure genuine leadership buy-in and create organizational conditions that allow ideas to flourish. Whether your goal is incremental improvement or disruptive market change, this book equips you with the knowledge to move from concept to commercial success with confidence.

If you're tired of seeing promising innovations fail, and you’re ready to transform your ideas into market realities, Built for Breakthrough is your indispensable guide to making innovation a predictable and powerful force in your business.

About this title

About the Authors

Shelli Baltman is a seasoned innovator and strategist formerly of McKinsey & Company, Oliver Wyman, and ?What If! Innovation before becoming the founding partner and CEO of The Idea Suite. She has led over 350 global innovation programs, spanning industries from consumer goods to health care. Known for her warmth and results-driven approach, Baltman is a trusted partner to leaders navigating complex challenges and bold transformations with a focus on social impact.

Fiona Stevenson is an award-winning innovation strategist and former Procter & Gamble brand leader who transforms blue-chip giants and ambitious start-ups into unstoppable growth engines. As the founding partner and CEO of The Idea Suite, Stevenson has helped many of the world's biggest and most respected companies invent breakthrough products, services, and brands. A magnetic keynote speaker, coach, and creativity catalyst, Stevenson is known for energizing rooms and unlocking the full creative potential of teams and leaders.

Edition details

• Publisher: Page Two Press
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1774586487
• ISBN 13: 9781774586488
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 272